Appointment Verification Policy

It is the policy of Winona State Health & Wellness Services not to provide students with excuses for short-term absences from class or missed deadlines due to illness or injury. In the event of a prolonged illness or injury requiring medical attention, staff will work with students to provide appropriate documentation. At the time of an appointment a “verification of visit” may be given at the student’s request which states the date of the appointment and the clinician’s or nurse’s signature.

This policy helps WSU Health & Wellness Services to direct its finite resources toward providing health care access for as many students as possible, rather than toward verification of short-term absences. Moreover, in cases of students seeking excuses after a brief illness or injury that has been effectively and appropriately managed by self-care, our clinicians may have no direct knowledge about the student’s condition at the time of the absence.

This policy reflects our respect for students’ privacy and our educational mission to help them become mature and independent stewards of their own health care. It is consistent with the policies of many peer institutions, as well as with the excuse recommendations of the American College Health Association.

We recognize that faculty seek equitable means of determining when to excuse student absences. This policy reinforces the students’ responsibility to communicate directly and proactively with faculty about conditions that interfere with their class attendance. Students are encouraged to speed their own recovery and to refrain from spreading infections such as colds and flu throughout the campus community by making mature decisions regarding when they are too sick to attend class or go to work. We appreciate the many ways in which faculty and other members of the campus community support and assist students during such absences.